Willis Lee Buethe, 83, of Elk Creek, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025, at Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams, Nebraska. Willis was born on September 20, 1942, in Pawnee City, Nebraska, to Earhardt and Leora (Geweke) Buethe in the Pawnee County Hospital Annex.

Willis grew up on a farm a few miles west of Elk Creek, where he worked side by side with his older brother, Ronald Dale Buethe, with whom he shared not only a deep bond but a lifetime of farming and friendship. Together, they operated a traditional southeast Nebraska farm — raising corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cattle, and at times even a few hogs and sheep.

He attended St. Peter’s Lutheran School through the eighth grade and graduated from Elk Creek High School in 1960. Active in 4-H as a youth, Willis learned early the values of responsibility and stewardship that would guide his life. Following high school, he served six months of active duty with the Nebraska National Guard, where he was proud to serve as a cook, a role he often spoke about with fondness and humor. He remained a member of the Guard for several years thereafter.

On September 6, 1969, Willis married Joyce Anne Hawkins in Tobias, Nebraska. Together they built a life filled with love, faith, and family. To this union were born two sons, Brian Willis Buethe (Michelle) of Grimes, Iowa, and Daniel Scott Buethe (Laura) of Hickman, Nebraska. Willis took tremendous pride in his family’s farm, which became a Century Farm, first purchased by his great-grandfather, Carl Buethe, on February 3, 1891. In 1991, the family was honored with the Pioneer Farm Family Award by the Knights of Aksarben and ConAgra. He served his community faithfully through the years, including with the Elk Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Elk Creek Young Men’s Club, and the Southeast Nebraska Feeders and Breeders Association. He also served in numerous leadership roles at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. He was a longtime member of the Kenneth A. Curtis American Legion Post 2 in Tecumseh, and later of the Tracy-Bates American Legion Post 370 in Elk Creek. He and a few friends were also responsible for creating the first batch of “Elk Creek Water,” a locally famous beverage that has stood the test of time since the early 1960s — a testament to his fun-loving spirit and sense of humor. Willis will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and mischievous sense of fun. He loved Elk Creek and its people deeply. Like many people from the area, he came from a long line of Nebraska Cornhusker fans and rooted for them in all kinds of weather.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce (2022); his brother, Ronnie (2020); his parents; one infant brother; his in-laws Forest G. and Barbara (Sronce) Hawkins; and brother- in-law Douglas Fritts. He is survived by his sons and their families, including grandchildren Grace (18), Henry (15), and Lilly (14); sisters-in-law Margaret Fritts, Linda Buethe, and Diane (Bruce) Uher; four nephews and one niece and their families; along with several remaining cousins, and a host of lifelong friends and neighbors who were blessed to know him.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 20, 2025, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Elk Creek, Nebraska, with Rev. Tim Brisbois officiating. Pallbearers were Brad Buethe, Jeff Buethe, Matt Uher, Glenn Fritts, Lance Rinne, Harold Richardson and Rod Buethe. Interment with military honors by the Tracy-Bates American Legion Post #370 of Elk Creek and the Nebraska Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team was in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Elk Creek. Memorials may go to the family’s choice. Services were entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Tecumseh, Nebraska.